WATCH: Fred Davis makes athletic defensive play in Clemson practice
Clemson Tigers cornerback Fred Davis made an insane play during practice. It came during one on one drills when Davis was competing in man coverage against Joseph Ngata. There, he broke up a pass over his head. What made it even more impressive is that Davis did so without using his hands.
Watch Fred Davis break up a pass without the use of his hands, here:
What makes this play particularly unique is that Fred Davis makes the play while wearing boxing gloves. This is part of the drill that works to develop a cornerback’s skills in man coverage. It forces you to play with your feet and hips. When you go to jam, you can’t grab and hold. Of course, this makes succeeding in this type of setting much more difficult too.
The Tigers are going to rely on Fred Davis and the defense
Clemson is coming into 2022 trying to bounce back from what was a down season by their standards. The defense remained elite but the offense fell off, and it put a lot of stress on that defense. The expectation is that Clemson looks similar in 2022, meaning Fred Davis and the defense need to stay strong.
During the Dabo Swinney era, Clemson has consistently had elite defensive lines. That means that defensive backs can often be overlooked. However, those defensive lines that put pressure on opposing quarterbacks make the job easier for defensive backs. They don’t have to cover as long and it forces bad decisions.
Fred Davis and the Clemson secondary are looking to take advantage of playing with an elite defensive line again in 2022. That should help them to build off a great 2021 season and make sure that they’re competing for an ACC title.
If Clemson can find improved play at quarterback, they will be in good position for the 2022 season.